Haaland Says Mbappé’s Absence Lifted City Before Crucial Bernabéu Win
So, here’s the story that’s been unfolding around the Champions League clash between Manchester City and Real Madrid — and it’s a pretty fascinating mix of psychology, pressure, and pure football drama. Erling Haaland has opened up about something unexpected: Real Madrid not starting Kylian Mbappé actually gave Manchester City a psychological boost before their huge 2-1 win at the Bernabéu.
Also Read:City went into this match with a point to prove. They had just been beaten by Bayer Leverkusen, and the Bernabéu crowd was ready to make life miserable for them. The atmosphere was intense, the stakes were massive, and everyone knew Madrid were desperate for a turnaround. But even before kickoff, a little mental shift happened within the City squad. Mbappé was listed on the bench, nursing a late ankle issue, and Haaland admitted that the moment the team saw he wasn’t starting, something changed. It wasn’t that they were happy he wasn’t there—Haaland even said he wanted to face the best—but naturally, it eased some pressure and gave City a quiet confidence heading into the game.
Madrid came out flying, pressing aggressively. In the opening minutes, Vinícius Júnior drew what looked like a penalty before VAR downgraded it to a free kick. It was chaotic, but instead of crumbling, City calmed down, settled into their rhythm, and started controlling the ball. Even then, Madrid found the breakthrough first. Jude Bellingham sent a gorgeous diagonal ball to Rodrygo, who scored his first goal since March. The stadium erupted, and suddenly the pressure ramped up again.
But City responded with that trademark composure. Nico O’Reilly reacted fastest after a Courtois clearance to equalize, and from there, the momentum shifted. Just before halftime, Rudiger pulled Haaland down in the box — a clear penalty in Haaland’s eyes — and the striker buried it with his usual icy confidence. From that point on, Madrid were chasing, and City were dictating.
Haaland later talked about how physical the match became. Madrid’s defenders, especially Raul Asencio and Antonio Rudiger, were trying to push him around from the first minute. He laughed it off, saying he actually enjoys those kinds of battles, but he made it clear the penalty call was justified.
For City, this win meant more than three points. It felt like a statement — that even when the pressure spikes, even in one of football’s most intimidating stadiums, they can manage the moment. Pep Guardiola now has some breathing room to rotate his squad in domestic fixtures, and the team heads into the next Champions League phase with fresh confidence.
As for Madrid, this result added even more pressure on Xabi Alonso, whose future is hanging by a thread. But for City, the night ended with belief restored and knockout-stage dreams very much alive.
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